Nearly two years in jail, journalist Siddique Kappan gets bail from SC

The Supreme Court on Friday granted bail to Kerala journalist Siddique Kappan, arrested by the Uttar Pradesh police over his alleged links with the favored Front of India (PFI) and charged under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act.

A bench presided by magistrate of India U U Lalit directed that he be produced within three days before the court, which is able to release him on bail on conditions it deems fit.

The bench also comprising Justices S Ravindra Bhat and P S Narasimha said the court was taken through some documents on record. “At this stage, we refrain from coping with and commenting on the progress of investigation and therefore the materials collected by prosecution because the matter is at framing of charge,” the bench said.

The bench said, however, that it had been granting him bail “considering the length of custody undergone by the appellant and therefore the peculiar facts and circumstances of the case”.

The court directed that Kappan should stay in Delhi for the primary six weeks after release and report at the local station house every Monday. After this era, he are going to be at liberty to travel to Kerala, where he will report at the local police station every Monday.

It also asked him to surrender his passport and to not get in contact with anyone connected with the controversy.

Kappan’s wife, Raihana Siddique, said she had moved a bail application with relevance the Enforcement Directorate case against him. “I hope Kappan will soon get bail within the ED case also. it had been registered in reference to the UAPA case. I thank everyone who stood with me and my family during this legal fight. We cannot explain the trauma we had capable within the past two years,’ she said.

Kappan et al. were arrested on October 5, 2020 from Mathura in province on their thanks to Hathras, where a Dalit girl had been raped and murdered. While Kappan said he was visiting report on the incident, police contended that the journalist’s trip was financed by a terrorist gang attending to spread disharmony in society.